PLAYER RATINGS: Moussa Diaby stood out for Aston Villa during 4-2 defeat by Olympiacos – as three team-mates desperately disappoint in semi-final first leg, writes LEWIS STEELE

Aston Villa were unable to overcome Olympiacos at Villa Park and face a tough task in Greece after falling 4-2 to the travellers on Thursday evening. 

The hosts were able to pull themselves level with the travellers after Jose Luis Mendilibar’s side gave themselves a two-goal cushion courtesy of Ayoub El Kaabi, who would end the night with a hat-trick. 

While goals from Ollie Watkins and Moussa Diaby either side of half-time kept Unai Emery‘s men in the hunt, their sloppiness in the face of aggressive European opposition told, with Douglas Luiz first conceding a penalty for El Kaabi to slot home. 

Santiago Hezze’s deflected strike moved Olympiacos back into the lead, and Villa were unable to claw back from the deficit, with Luiz missing a late penalty and giving them everything to do next week. 

Here, Mail Sport’s Lewis Steele reviews the hosts’ performances on a troublesome night in the Midlands.  

Douglas Luiz conceded at one end and missed from the spot at the other in Villa’s Europa Conference League clash

Olympiacos put on a rampant showing at Villa Park to return home with a two-goal cushion

Robin Olsen stepped up in Emiliano Martinez’s wake and had a night to forget in his place

Robin Olsen – 4

This was his big night, with the Swede stepping in for suspended No 1 Emi Martinez. He has won titles in Denmark and his native Sweden, plus World Cup quarter-finals and at the cauldron of Stadio Olimpico for Roma, so it was a bit much to suggest this was the biggest game of his career but it felt defining. Started well but was not commanding enough.

Matty Cash – 5

Was slow getting out for Olympiacos’s second goal and played Ayoub El Kaabi onside. Got up and down the right flank well but the final ball was often lacking.

Ezri Konsa – 4

Not his finest evening as Olympiacos constantly had runners from deep causing problems, not least hat-trick hero El Kaabi. Was hardly to blame as the Greek side’s fourth goal deflected in off him but it summed up a poor evening.

Clement Lenglet – 4

Gave the ball away cheaply for Olympiacos’s second goal and looked off the pace all evening. Seemed bizarre that Spanish defender Pau Torres was a substitute.

Lucas Digne – 5

He was ineffective going forward and his corners from the right-hand side were often overcooked and mopped up by the Olympiacos defenders. Crossing was poor and wayward.

Clement Lenglet (left) and Ezri Konsa (right) looked far from their best on Thursday evening

Lucas Digne’s attempts to spur on Villa’s attack were sloppy and his crossing wayward

Leon Bailey – 6.5

Had the ball in the net early on and got into some nice areas throughout. Provided a nice assist for Diaby’s goal but left back Francisco Ortega often got the better of him in duels.

John McGinn – 5.5

Struggled in the first half as Olympiacos dominated the midfield battle. Grew into the game after the break and started to spray passes around but was rather ineffective.

Douglas Luiz – 5

Villa’s midfield were too often second best to loose balls and were overrun, especially in the first half. Luiz lacked his usual control of games and his missed penalty summed up his night.

Morgan Rogers – 6.5

Thought he had opened the scoring after six minutes but was denied by a fine Kostas Tzolakis save. The January arrival continued his good form, though, and constantly popped up in dangerous areas.

Moussa Diaby – 7

Always chooses the correct option and has been one of the signings of the season in the Premier League. He poked through a lovely ball for Watkins’ goal then produced a tidy finish of his own at the start of the second half after a nice off-the-ball run.

The Brazil international’s ponderous run-up from the spot saw his eventual shot glide wide

Moussa Diaby claimed Villa’s second after the half-time mark and briefly took them level

Ollie Watkins may have scored but did little else to boost Villa’s chances in the tie’s first-leg

Ollie Watkins – 6.5

Never had any doubts he would score when poked through on goal by Diaby despite it being a relatively tough chance to convert. Did little otherwise, though.

Substitutes

Jhon Duran (for Rogers, 74min) – 6

Nicolo Zaniolo (for Diaby, 85)

Timothy Iroegbunam (for Bailey, 85)

Not used: Joe Gauci, James Wright, Diego Carlos, Pau Torres, Kaine Kesler Hayden, Finley Munroe, Omari Kellyman, Kadan Young.